Darlington

Darlington's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Darlington increased by 7.9%, from about 97,800 to 106,000.

The addition of just over 7,700 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the North East and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (also up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Darlington was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North East's third-least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Darlington.

The percentage of households in Darlington that rented privately increased from 9.1% in 2001 to 18% in 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 18% in 2001. The percentage of Darlington households that owner their home decreased from 71% to 65%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Middlesbrough had the region's next highest proportion of privately rented homes (17%), while the proportion was 13% in Stockton-on-Tees.

Private renting in Darlington increased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Darlington, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

This area saw the North East's joint second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner, alongside Redcar and Cleveland. The largest rise was seen in Northumberland

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) people aged 16 and over in Darlington said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 52% to 47%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The proportion of households without children increased in Darlington, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of households without children, as the regional average grew from 60% to 62%.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62%) households in Darlington had no children, compared with 61% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 29% to 29%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Darlington residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% to 5.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Darlington residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Darlington decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Darlington, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Darlington, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.9% to 10% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The proportion that had only a single person remained close to 32%, while the percentage of households in Darlington, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 37% to 32%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 7.8% in 2001 to 10.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Darlington increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Darlington, the North East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

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